Quick opening package



March 30, 1943. J. 5. FLIZIKOWSKI 2,315,116

QUICK OPENING PACKAGE Filed Sept. 15, 19:59 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ficed 2M WMarch 1 J. 5. FLIZIKOWSKI 2,315,116

QUICK OPENING PACKAGE Filed Sept. 13, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 PatentedMar. 30, 1 943 QUICK OPENING PACKAGE John S. Flizikowski, Chicago, Ill.,assignor by mesne assignments to James Elwyn Daniels,

Chicago, Ill.

Application September 13, 1939, Serial No. 294,605

12 Claims.

quick opening packages by providing, in conjunc tion with the openingmeans, a reinforcement for the margins of the removed area or themargins of the slit, as the case may be.

This objective I realize, in general, by adhering to the underside ofthe sheet stock to be torn, a tear tape which has considerablelongitudinal strength but which is easily split longitudinally. Foropening a package, the entire width of the tape is not torn, but onlyapart of the width,

thus leaving at least one lateral margin of the tape adhered to the slitalong its margin to serve as a permanent reinforcement. If the openingin the package is to be a slit-or narrow slot, as in the instance of anenvelope, for example, I tear only the middle band of the tape, leavingboth its lateral edges adhered to the respective margins of the slit orslot to serve as a reinforcement for both margins thereof. When anarea'of the sheet stock is tov be removed, as in opening a cigarettepackage, for example, then I tear out one lateral edge or half of thetape,

leaving the other lateral edge or half adhered.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of one corner of the package of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a'view of the inside of the blank for the carton of Fig. 1before it is made up into a carton;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the tearing by the tapeprogressed to an intermediate stage;

Fig. 5 is a detailed cross-section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modification in whichall of the protruding end of thetearing tape is of reduced width;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the back side of an envelopeincorporating my invention with the tearing tape torn to an intermediatestage;

Fig.8 is a perspective view of a cigarette package embodying myinvention;

Fig. 9 is a layout view of the liner for the cigarette package before itis folded up into a package;

Figs. 9A and 9B are somewhat diagrammatical detailed perspective viewsillustrating the manner of folding-thetape to make a ninety degree turn;

Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section of the cigarette package ofFig. 8 taken on the line i0ld thereof;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the cigarettepackage of Fig. 8 but showing the start of the tearing;

to the margin of the opening as a permanent reinforcement therefor.

The tearing tape employed in my invention is peculiarly susceptible ofbeing arranged to tear around comers or to other angular changes and toyield a less ragged line of tear in, the sheet 7 stock.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a. package of the carton type embodyingone form of my invention;

Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the tearing I completed;

Fig. 12A is a perspective view of the panel which was removed fromthetop of the package or box of the type in which breakfast cereals,sugar, soap flakes, or many'other products might be packaged. .Thecarton may conveniently be formed, as usual, from a single blank scoredand cut to form the front l6, ends ll, end-carried top flaps l8, afront-carried flap l9, and a backcarried flap 20. As is usual in makingup the blank into a box, the end flaps [8 are first folded in at thetop, then the back-carried flap 20 is folded down and adhered to the endflaps l8,

and finally the front-carried flap i9 is folded down upon and secured tothe flap 20.

As shown in Fig. 3, a length of tape 2| is adhered to the underside ofthe flap l9 adjoining I a corresponding slit in the inner package.

.this way the top of the front l6 may be bellied its scored connectionto the front ii. The same coating of adhesive applied to the undersideof the top flap l9 whereby it is adhered to'the flap 20 may be used toadhere the tearing tape 2| to the flap IS. The tape 2| preferablyextends from one end of the flap l8 to the other end and is adhered tothe flap throughout the length of the flap. The tape 2| is longer thanthe flap l9, leaving a protruding end 2|. This protruding end 2|overlies the end flap IS in Fig. 3, but it is not adhered to it. Whenthe blank is folded up into the carton i 5, only the end 2| of the tapeis exposed.

After the tape 2| is adhered to the flap l9- still referring to Fig. 3apair of oblique cuts 22 is made through the flap l9 and also through thetape 2|. The cuts extend from the adjacent end edge. of the flap l9obliquely inwardly toward the center line of the tape 2|, but the cutsdo not extend to the center line. Instead they terminate a spaceddistance from the center; line of the tape, leaving the central third orfourth of the width of the tape uncut.

If, as is frequently the case in packaging breakfast foods, or otherproducts to be kept moisturefree, the carton is jacketed in wax paper orCellophane, the jacketing may entirely envelop the protruding end 2| ofthe tearing tape, in which case the thumb nail is used to break throughthe jacketing to get a hold on the protruding end of the tape, afterwhich the tearing of the tape may tear a corresponding slit in thejacket. Alternatively, the protruding end 2 I of the-tearing tape may besomewhat longer, if need be, and interfolded with the jacket to extendoutwardly through the sealed folds of the jacket to expose theprotruding end 2| without interfering with the moisture-proof seal ofthe jacket.

To open the package of Fig. 1, the protruding end 2| of the tearing tapeis grasped between the thumb and index finger and pulled upwardlylongitudinally of the package. Because of the dovetail-like cuts 22, thefull width of the tape is not torn through the panel l9. Instead, thetearing width of the tape is confined to the uncut portion between theconverging ends of the cuts 22. Thus only a narrow central band 22a ofthe tearing tape is torn. The lateral margins 22b of the tearing tape,lying outwardly of the central band 22a, remain adhered to the panel l9.

' The upward tearing of the narrow central band 22a along the length ofthe tearing strip 2| tears a narrow band |9a from the panel I9, as shownin Fig. 4. The tearing is continued beyond the intermediate stage ofFig. 4 to the opposite end of the top panel l9, when the central band22a of the tape and the narrow band l9a of the panel top i9 will havebeen completely removed from the box. This leaves a slot 23 in the toppanel I9 extending the length thereof and adjacent the front of the box,and 'with the margins of the slot 23 reinforced on the underside by thelateral bands 22b of the tearing tape which remain adhered to theunderside of the top panel. As shown in Fig. 5, the, tape is preferablyso placed that the slot 23 will come beyond the adjacent edge of theflap 20 so that it becomes unnecessary to teal-through two thicknessesof flap. If the contents of the package are enclosed in an innerenvelope, bag or liner,- a knife blade may be inserted through the slot23 to out In out to enlarge the width of the slot 23 in pouring out thecontents, especially in the instance of cornflakes, soap chips, orcontents of a similar physical nature. Where the contents are not of anature which permits them to be poured out of such a slot, but insteadthe top has to be fully opened, the formation of the slot 23, involvingthe cutting through of the top panel l9, makes it' very convenient tolift the flaps l9 and 20 about the scored connection of the latter withthe back, and either tearing the end flaps l8 at their scored connectionto the ends II, or pulling loose their adherence to the flap 20. Ineither case the entire composite or multi-layered top of the box thenbecomes a hinged cover.

The tearing tape 2| is of a. type which readilythe quality of tearinglongitudinally much easier than transversely, the central band 22a wouldbe defined by twin longitudinal scoring or perforation lines topredetermine the central band which is. to be torn from the lateralband.

It will be understood that in the instance of the carton of Fig. 1, thetearing tape might be adhered to the underside of the front I 6 adjacentits upper edge rather than on the top panel. Also, the tape may beextended around more than one side or end, or completely around thepackage. In the instance of some types of packaging it could extendabout all four sides at a region near the middle of the package. In thisway boxes containing individual portions of breakfast foods, forexample, could be so opened that the boxes are cut in the top and bottomhalves in accordance with the prevailing custom in restaurants.

In Fig. 7 I have shown my invention incorporated in an envelope. Thetearing tape is adhered to the inner side of the flap adjacent itsfolded juncture with the envelope front.

In Figs. 8 to 13 I have shown my invention incorporated in a cigarettepackage which is otherwise of standard design. The cigarette package 25,shown in Fig. 8, is, pursuant to usual practice, formed by a two-plyliner 26, the outer ply being foil and the inner ply a liner paper. Allsides, save the top, are further enclosed by a label sheet 21. Thepackage is sealed at the top by a revenue stamp 28, the ends of whichare brought down onto the front .and back and tion with referencethereto but laid flat before being formed up into a package. The linesof fold indicated in Fig. 9 do not show before the sheets are foldedinto a package, but I have here indicated them for clarity. Or,alternatively, Fig. 9 can be considered as a plan view of the inside ofthe sheets after'they have been removed from a cigarette package andlaid flat.

A tearing tape 30 is shown adhered in U-shaped form to the insidesurface of the two-ply liner 26, The tearing tape 30 comprises aprotruding end 30a, which extends beyond the upper edge of the liner 26,a first flap leg 3017, a web' reach 300, and a second flap leg 30d,which terminates at the upper edge of the sheet 26. The web reach 300 isso placed that it straddles the line of fold I 3|, which will come atthe upper edge of the package and which separates the top flap 32 fromthe side panels. The legs 30b and 30d of the tearing tape come onportions of the liner 2' which will constitute the top flaps of thepackage. The tearing tape 30 may be of the same construction aspreviously described. Those portions of the tearing tape 30 whichoverlie the liner sheet 26 are adhered thereto. Figs. 9A and 9Billustrate how the tape may be folded to effect a neat and fiat ninetydegree turn in the tape. The tape is first folded along a forty-fivedegree line of fold and then refolded along a transverse line of fold inregister with the outer edge of the previously adhered leg or reach.

The reach of tape 300 is centeredupon the panel 26a, which willconstitute one of the narrow side panels of the package, so that thelegs 30b and 30d, when the top flaps 32 are folded down, will come intosuperposed register partially underlying one edge of the revenue stamp28, as best seen in Fig. 10.

The protruding end 30a of the tearing strip is made a continuation ofthe leg 30b rather than of the leg 30d, because the leg 30b ism thatportion of the top flap 32 which, when the package is made up, comesuppermost of the several superposed portions of the flap 32. Thus, asshown in Fig. 8, the end 30a is exposed at the top edge of the front (orback, as the case may be) panel of the package, rather than being hiddenby some superposed portion of the flap 32.

Usually cigarette packages carry an outer jacket of Cellophane or othertransparent sheet material. That problem may be met in any of threeways. The user may first remove the Cellophane completely. Or he may dighis thumb nailinto the Cellophane to make an opening to get access tothe end 30a of the tearingtape. Or, the end 30a may be made considerablylonger and extend back across the top of .the package beneath the topflap of the Cellophane jacket so that the tip of the end 30a is exposedwithout the jacket. In either of the latter two instances, the tearingof the tape toopen the package will neatly tear out a correspondingopening in the jacket.

To open the cigarette package, the protruding end 30a of the tearingtape is engaged between the thumb and forefinger which protruding end, a

it will be noted, is of only half width) and is pulled upwardly andacross the top of the package, as shown in-Fig. 11. One lateral half 30cis torn from the tape. When the tape has reached vthe'other side of thepackage, the band 30c is pulled down toward the end of the package, thenforwardly along the end edge, then back to the revenue stamp, and thenagain along the edge of the revenue stamp, about half way toward theother panel. (There is some overlapping of tear-' ing because thelegs30b and 30d overlap.) This entirely removes about one-third of thecomposite top of the package, which removed rectangular portion is shownin Fig. 12A. Because the tear ing tape cleaves so easily in alongitudinal direction, but not transversely, only the half We of thetearing tape, as predetermined by the narrow protruding end, is tornfrom the remainder of the tape and remains more or less fixed to theremoved portion shown in Fig. 12A. The other half 30, of the taperemains affixed to the margins of the opening, as shown in Fig. 12A, andconstitutes a marginal reinforcement therefor.

The use of a longitudinally splitting tearing tape, one lateral half ofwhich remains on the package, not only has the advantage of leaving themarginal reinforcement but it produces a trimmer and neater torn edgefor the two-ply liner sheet 26. That is because the tape is closelyadhered to the sheet and the tape itself will cleave only in a neatstraight line, and hence the sheet is likewise torn in a fairly neatstraight line.

By the use of this tape and the folding expedient shown in Figs. 9A and98 to effect flat angular turns, no problem is involved in tearingaround comers. Nor is any. difliculty encountered because of the factthat the reach 30c of the tearing tape lies along a fold so that onemarginal half lies in vertical planes and the other marginal half liesin a horizontal plane. Thus, the line of tear may be placed exactly onthe line of fold.

The combination 45 and transverse folds of the tape in forming corners,per Figs. 9A and 9B, are important. It keeps the torn-out half of thetape on the inner margin of the U. If only a 45 fold were used at eachcorner of the U, the tornout half of the tape would be on the inside ofthe U along the first leg, then it would shift over to the outsidemargin ofthe U along the web reach, and then shift back again to theinside margin of the U along the second leg. This shifting would notshear the liner at the fold line. There would also be a practicalcomplication in tearing through both corners if formed merely by simple45 folds, the reason for which is better understood by experimentingthan from verbal explanation.

The operation of opening the package to remove a portion of thecomposite top is in practice a very simple and quick operation. The userneed not concern himself with the detail of following the path of thetear; if he merely pulls upwardly on the protruding end 30a andcontinues to pull upwardly,- the tearing will find its own path withoutfurther guiding. An incidental advantage of this cigarette opening tapeis that, when arranged as shown, it tears out a substantial portion ofthe revenue stamp, thereby conforming to the statutory requirement thatthe revenue stamp be destroyed when the contents are removed. U

My longitudinally splitting tearing tape adhered to the underside of thesheet-whether arranged to split along a single medial line or to splitalong two spaced lines to tear out'an intermediate band-yields a neatershearing of the sheet than does an ordinary tear thread, and it avoidsthe jamming so frequently encountered with ordinary tear threads.Because it may easily be lead about turns, my splitting tearing tape maybe used for forming narrow slots of desired shape in tearable sheets.The predetermined shape which the slot will take where the tape is tornis not visible from the outer side of the sheet.

While I have illustrated and described these specific embodiments of myinvention, I contemplate that many changes and substitutions may be madewithout departing from the scope or spirit of myinvention. For example,the tearing tape may be split in half, rather than in thirds inapplication to a carton such as shown in Fig. 1: or, conversely, thetearing tape may be incorporated in a cigarette package, although itmight not be of advantage to make the latter substitution.-

I claim:

l. A tearable package wall having adhered fiatwise to its inner side atan unslotted region thereof, a self-tearing tear tape composed ofparallel longitudinal strands so held together that the tape readilysplits longitudinally but not transversely, a portion of the tape. beingexposed tabwise with only a, narrow band of the longitudinal strandsextending from the tab portion into the adhered main reach of the tape,for the purpose the tape between the preformed line and a lateral edgewhereby outward pulling of the tab will sever one lateral band of thetape along the preformed line, also shearing the sheet along saidpreformed line, and leaving the remaining lateral band of the tapeadhered to the sheet.'

3. The combination with a tearablesheet of a tearing tape adheredflatwise to'the reverse side of the sheet, the tape being preformed torender it readily tearable longitudinally along a pair of laterallyspaced lines which are spaced inwardly from the respective lateralmargins of the tape, an end of the tape being exposed as a tab and thetape being cut adjacent the base of the tab between the respectivepreformed lines and the respective marginal edges, whereby outwardpull-' ing of the tab will tear the central longitudinal band of thetapedefined by the two'preformed lines from the marginal band and tear aslot in the sheet, leaving the marginal bands adhered to the sheet atthe margins ofthe slot as reinforcementstherefor. v

4. The combination with a carton formed from a sheet of paper stock toprovide a plurality of walls, of a tearing tape adhered flatwise to theinner side of-the sheet stock along one wall of the carton, the tearingtape being formed of a multiplicity of parallel strands held together asa flat tape to split readily longitudinally but not transversely, oneend of th tape being exposed as a tab and the tape, adjacent the base ofthe tab, being cut transversely inwardly from one lateral margin partway across the tape, whereby, when the tab is pulled outwardly, only theuncut width of the band is torn fromthe tape and shears thesheet,.leaving the remainder of the tape adhered to the sheet as amarginal reinforcement at the line of shear. A

5. The. method of forming and subsequently opening a package whichconsists in preassem-' bling a multiplicity of parallel longitudinalstrands into a flat singleply tape which splits readily longitudinallybut not transversely, forming tearable sheet stock into a package,adhering the tape flatwise to the inner side of animperforate'wallforming portion of the sheet stock, leaving an end ofthe tape exposed as a tab for manual engagement, cutting the tapepartway transversely from a lateral margin and then, for subsequentlyopening the package, pulling the tab outwardly to-tear its uncut widthfrom the remainder of the tape and thereby shearing the overlying sheet,leaving the-remaining width of the tape adhered to the sheet as amarginal reinforcement at the line of shear.

6. A cigarette package comprising a rectangular sheet folded into blockshape with panels intermediate the top and bottom margins constitutingthe four side panels and the top and bottom margins being infolded assuperposed flaps to conof a tearing tape formed from a multiplicity oflongitudinal strands held together as a flat tape which readily splitslongitudinally between adjacent strands but does not readily splittransversely, the tape being adhered flatwise to the inner side of thsheet and applied thereto in U-form with the web reach-of the Uelongated and lying along the fold between the side panel and top flapsand extending across one side panel of the package and continuing onboth sides thereof, and with the legs extending from the ends of the webreach to the upper edge of the'sheet, one of the legs protruding as atab beyondthe upper edge of the sheet for manual engagement, the tapebeing severed adjacent the protruding tab whereby outward pulling of thetab will split the ,tape longitudinally and shear the sheet, cuttingtherefrom an end portion of the top and leaving' the remainder of thetape adhered to the sheet as a marginal reinforcement for the openingthus cut in the top.

7. The combination according to claim 6 in which a revenue stamp extendsacross the top and downwardly upon the opposite side of the package inoverlying relation to a reach of the tape to be ''and side panels, oneend of the tape being available as a tab for' manual engagement, outwardpulling of the tab splitting the half of the tape which is carried bythe flap portion from the remaining halfof the tape and shearing theflap portion to open the package and leave the other half of the tapeadhered to the sheet as a marginal reinforcement for the opening.

9. The combination with a package-forming sheet of a longitudinallysplitting tearing tape adhered flatwise to the inner face of the sheetin theform of a U with the web reach of the U exstitute' the top andbottom walls of the package, 76

tending parallel with, but spaced inwardly from, one margin of the sheetand the two legs of the U extending from the ends of the 'web reach tothe said edge of the sheet, and one of the legs protruding beyond theedge of the sheet as a tab,

the tape having a line of severance near the tab for resolving anoutward pull on the tab into a longitudinal splitting of the tape and atearing of the sheet along the line of split, said legs being joined assquare comers with the web reach by means of 45 degree and degree foldsacross the tape at the comers, substantially as set forth.

10. The method of forming and subsequently opening a cigarette paekagewhich consists in wrapping a sheet into cigarette package form to formthe four sides of the package, infolding the upper margin as superposedflaps to form the top of the package, and adhering a longitudinallysplitting tape to the inside of the sheet along the line of fold betweenthe tab and side panels adjoining one end of the package andtransversely of the flap portion with an end of the tape exposed as atab, and then subsequently opening the package by pulling outwardly uponthe tab to split the tape longitudinally and thereby shear the flap ofthe sheet to'sever one end of the top, leaving one half of the splittape adhered to the sheet adjoining the severed portion of the top toconstitute a marginal reinforcement for it.

11. In a package, a wall-forming tearable sheet having an exposed edge,a longitudinally splitting tear tape adhered to the inner face of thesheet and extending inwardly from the edge, and also protrud ng beyondthe edge as a tab, and a pair of cuts through the sheet and tapeextending convergingly inwardly from points at the edge of the sheet atthe respective lateral edges of the tape and terminating a spaceddistance apart intermediate the lateral edges of the tape whereby, whenthe tab is pulled outwardly, the tape is constrained to splitlongitudinally along two lines substantially in register with therespective termini of th cuts to split out a central longitudinal bandof the tape and shear the sheet, leaving the outer margins of the tapeadhered to the inner side of the sheet along the margins of of the sheetflatwise to that face of the sheet which will be inside the package, andan exposed tab on the tape adapted to be grasped for an outward tearingpull upon the tape progressively along its length, starting at the tab,whereby to shear the sheet open for access into the interior, the teartape being of integral construction and preformed to render it readilyand cleanly severable, as an incident to. said tearing pull, along apredetermined longitudinal line extending from said tab, and the tabbeing structurally divorced from longitudinal connection with at leastone longitudinal band of the adhered tape but structurally connectedwith another longitudinal band of the adhered tape alongside the firstmentioned band, so that only the connected longitudinal narrow band ofthe tape carrying said tab will tearingly sever the sheet and carry someof the sheet adhered to the band while the divorced band of the taperemains adhered to the sheet as reinforcement along the margin of itsseverance.

JOHN S. FLIZIKOWSKI.

